Pitchers and Catchers report to spring training in 40 days, the Cubs Convention is less than 2 weeks away….the excitement for the 2007 season is building as everyday passes. Teams are starting to take shape, minor league contracts with invites to spring training are being signed and the announcement of this year’s Hall of Fame Class is on Tuesday. Baseball is indeed a year round sport, in many ways it seems like just yesterday when Lou Piniella was announcing games for Fox.
There were a few signings on Friday that included several former Cubs. Jerry Hairston, Jr. resigned with the Texas Rangers and David Newhan was removed from the free agents list….he signed with the New York Mets on Friday as well. Here is the latest from around the league and a few tidbits from the useless information department…. Jerry Hairston, Jr. and David Newhan…. According to several reports Hairston resigned with the Rangers on Friday. Hairston was dealt to the Rangers last season for Phil Nevin, who was later dealt to the Twins for Adam Harben….Nevin is still on the market. The interesting note about Hairston is according to CBS SportsLine the 1-year deal is a minor league contract. According to Rotowire, “the Rangers were looking for an upgrade but no one fell into their laps.” Newhan’s deal is for 1-year as well with the Mets and the Baseball This Morning crew on XM raved about Newhan on Friday and absolutely loves this signing for the Mets.
Former Cub Signings…. According to CBS SportsLine the following former members of the Cubs’ organization signed minor league contracts with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday:
- Francis Beltran
- Jon Leicester
- Jason Dubois
- Brandon Sing
- Luis Montanez
Useless Information…. From to time the CCO will be publishing information that is of no value except to annoy your friends and loved ones. Also, look for This Week in Cubs History to return in the coming weeks….
- Harry Caray’s full name is Harry Christopher Carabina.
- Citizens United for Baseball in the Sunshine (C.U.B.S.) was the name of the Wrigleyville Citizens’ group that opposed the addition of lights to Wrigley Field.
- Did you know the Cubs were the first baseball franchise to purchase lights for their stadium? The Cubs donated them to the US WWII War effort.
- Ned Williamson held the single season home run record of 27 from 1884 until 1919 when it was broken by Babe Ruth.
- Larry Bowa was the highest paid Cub in 1982 at a salary of $800,000.
- Shortstop Joe Tinker and second baseman Johnny Evers (Tinkers to Evers to Chance) rarely spoke to one another through most of their careers. When Evers succeeded Tinker as manager in the winter of 1912, Tinker asked to be traded to the Reds and was accommodated.
“People say I was never with a winner, but what is a winner? I was indeed with a winner because I made lifetime friends on my ball club. I won every time I stepped on the grass at Wrigley Field because I had such a wonderful relationship with the Cubs players, the fans, and all of Chicago, the greatest people in the world. Not on a winner? I was on a winner all of my life.” – Ernie Banks
Well, that’s all for now and I’m sticking to it!!!